UAE shopping: After 90% discounts, get ready for more Eid offers - and cashback

Dubai: After 90% discounts, shoppers in Dubai and the UAE can expect more price-offs and cashback promotions heading into the Eid Al Adha holidays.

The clothing, accessories and perfumes category has been the big winner in the ongoing 3-day super-sale at leading shopping destinations in Dubai, and shoppers will be looking to see whether offers in other categories have got attractive price-offs.

New car sales could do with some higher demand after a fairly slow phase from March to end May, and dealers are now offering some eye-catching auto loan schemes or cashback to bring in buyers. The gold and jewellery category is another that could do with more buyers, but remains weighed down by the high price of gold. (Today’s Dubai gold rate is Dh367 a gram for 22K.)

Meanwhile, the 3-day mega-sale in Dubai ends Sunday (June 1), with retail and mall industry sources saying the first two days brought in ‘much higher than average’ shopper traffic. The F&B businesses cashed in as well from the higher visitor inflows.

“UAE residents are coming back after a 2-month lull, and it does seem they were saving up for the mega-sale and Eid promotions,” said a fashion retailer. “The last two days have seen higher than average spending.”

Fashion retailers say their pre-summer clothing stocks have had brisk sales in the last 48 hours. Some of them had been quite worried that dull demand in April and May could leave them carrying higher inventory. But the mega-discounts are helping – and if the trend continues, so should shopping during Eid.   

If not for the hot weather, more tourist shoppers too could have shown up, some high-street retailers say. Even then, the feeling is that enough sales have happened among resident shoppers to compensate for less tourist buying.

“The 3 Day Super Sale (3DSS), concludes 1 June, with one final chance to shop, gift, and save on unmissable Eid Al Adha offers,” says a statement issued by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.  

“Incredible discounts of up to 90% are still up for grabs across more than 500 top brands at over 2,500 outlets, promising shoppers massive savings and exclusive rewards while scoring exquisite Eid gifts at unbeatable prices for one more day only.”

When it comes to the electronics and smartphone category, this Eid retailers will try to mop up any pre-holiday spending on gadgets. (Some will also have an eye on buying now before the next school season gets underway.)  

According to Vikas Chadha, CEO of Jumbo Electronics, “We’re offering discounts of 25% to 40% across cameras, smartwatches, small domestic appliances, and TVs — along with our new ‘Best Price Guarantee’ to ensure customers get the best possible deal.

“Shoppers can also benefit from 10% cashback with select banks and 0% easy payment plans via Tabby and Tamara.”

Cashbacks are also showing up in multiple retail categories, including when it comes to new car sales.

Multiple auto dealer sources say that year-to-date sales had been slower, and that after April, demand dropped even further. "There was a lot of background noise around Trump tariffs and whether it would all add up to higher car costs," said a dealer. "Whatever be the reason, there is a bit of caution among buyers.

"We can even see that in demand for secondhand cars."

Will Eid offers get buyers back testing out new models - and most important, buy them?